Student Support

Student Support

School Counselor - Rachelle Bowman

Dr. Rachelle Bowman earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of Maryland College Park and a Master of Education and Doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. Dr. Bowman has been the School Counselor at Holy Cross since 2010. Prior to working at Holy Cross, Dr. Bowman provided counseling services in a variety of school, nonprofit, and for profit settings. Dr. Bowman served as President of the Virginia Tech chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the Honor Society for counseling graduate students. She spent five years supervising graduate students in counselor preparation programs and served as a graduate student liaison between a local counseling association and graduate programs. She was given a leadership award for her work with this association. More recently, Dr. Bowman chaired a local parish school’s Advisory Board School Culture Committee where she worked with school leadership to implement school-wide inclusivity initiatives.

Dr. Bowman strives to help every student be his or her personal best.

Middle School Resource Support –Joanie Cassidy Friel

Joanie Friel, a native Washingtonian, grew up attending Catholic schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University and a Master of Education degree from the Catholic University of America. Her first teaching position was at the Chelsea School working with high school students with learning differences. After her children entered school, she went back to teaching, this time in Catholic schools, first at Our Lady of Lourdes and now at our own Holy Cross. Here she continues her mission of working with struggling students in a faith-filled environment.

Lower School Resource Support – Mrs. Katie Shaffer

Katie Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master in Special Education from the Catholic University of America. Mrs. Shaffer taught First Grade for five years at St. Ann's Academy. After receiving her graduate degree, she went to St. Bartholomew School to be the resource teacher for Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. While at St. Bartholomew School, she also taught Second Grade and received the Knights of Columbus Teacher of the Year award in 2005. Mrs. Shaffer stayed home to raise her four children and tutored at night during her time away from the classroom. She has also worked for the Catholic Business Network, which raises money for Catholic elementary schools. She is now the lower school resource teacher at Holy Cross School.

She believes that all children should be given the necessary tools needed to be successful in school and thrive academically.